Amazon Prime Video is now available in more countries than Netflix.
The Seattle tech titan announced today that it will expand its video service to 200 countries globally. Prime Video is now available at no additional cost for Amazon Prime members in some countries, including Canada, France, Belgium, Italy, India, and Spain. In other regions, the video service can be purchased for $3 or €3 a month for the first six months. After that period, the price jumps to $6 per month.
Viewers in those countries will now have access to the Prime Video library of content as well as Amazon original series, like “Transparent,” “Man in the High Castle,” and “Top Gear” reboot “The Grand Tour.” Amazon’s original series will be available in English, with French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitles. Viewers can also access dubbed versions.
The expansion comes almost a year after Netflix announced the launch of its service in 130 countries around the world. Neither Netflix nor Amazon Prime will be available in China.
In the U.S., Netflix costs $10 per month. In April, Amazon began offering Prime Video as a stand-alone service for $9 month, to square off with Netflix more directly.
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The two streaming companies are in fierce competition with one another and Amazon’s international price point may give the company an edge. Netflix’s international prices vary but they are typically higher than what Amazon plans to charge, even when the monthly fee doubles after the first six months.
The low-ball pricing is a familiar tactic for Amazon, which drove many traditional retailers out of business by charging lower prices and sacrificing profits.
But even though Amazon Prime Video may be a better value for international viewers, Netflix’s originals still carries more caché. Both companies are planning huge investments in original content over the next year so this race, although heated, is just getting started.
